Qatar basketball federation hosts Gulf U-18 Championship and announces tournament schedule
DOHA: The Qatari capital, Doha, is preparing to welcome the region’s top youth teams as it hosts the Gulf Basketball Under-18 Championship from July 17 to 22 at Al Gharafa Sports Hall. This prestigious event carries significant importance as it serves as the qualifying stage for the FIBA Asia U-18 Championship, set to take place in India this August, paving the way for teams to continue their journey toward the FIBA U-19 World Cup.
Five national teams will compete: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The tournament will be played in a round-robin format, with the top three teams earning direct qualification to the continental finals. With the Gulf teams’ closely matched levels and promising young talents, strong competition is expected throughout.
Beyond continental qualification, the Asia Championship itself represents the final gateway to the FIBA U-19 World Cup, scheduled in the Czech Republic from June 26 to July 4, 2027. The top four teams at the Asian finals will secure their tickets to the global stage.
The Qatari national team enters the tournament with high ambitions, aiming to capitalize on home advantage and fan support. Qatar begins its campaign on Saturday, July 18, with a crucial clash against Saudi Arabia at 6:00 p.m.—a match anticipated to be one of the highlights of the championship. The team will then face Kuwait on Sunday, July 19, Oman on Tuesday, July 21, and conclude against Bahrain on Wednesday, July 22, all at 6:00 p.m. These encounters are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the final standings and determining the qualifiers.
The championship opens on Friday, July 17, with Oman vs. Kuwait at 4:00 p.m., followed by Saudi Arabia vs. Bahrain at 6:00 p.m. The schedule continues with daily matches until the final day, ensuring a competitive atmosphere until the very last whistle.
As part of its preparation, the Qatari youth team is holding an overseas training camp in Yalova, Turkey, from July 6 to 15, 2026. The camp includes four friendly matches against Turkish clubs and one against Turkey’s U-18 national team, designed to provide valuable experience, enhance team cohesion, and test tactical approaches ahead of the official competition.
The Qatari delegation is headed by Mr. Khalid Ahmed Al-Mughni. The technical staff is led by Turkish coach Cengiz Karadağ, assisted by Abdo Al-Harji, Hashem Zaidan, and Munir Ben Ghalla, with Kenan as fitness coach and Saif Al-Din Al-Hamandi as physiotherapist. The administrative team includes Omar Ahmed and Ayoub Lutfi.
The squad features 11 players: Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Meshaal Khalid Al-Mughni, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohammed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al-Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed.
